I worked for Adamah from 2004-2009 (back then it was called Hazon), and can attest that they, as an organization, have always been led by nuance and compassion--whether with humans' relationship to the planet or our complicated relationships to one another. I'm so glad to hear that they are still doing good work. That sounds like a truly special iftar. I am looking forward to your article!
On a pettier level, fuck the trolls. Thank you for being committed to the tough work of building new worlds, rather than the foolish and all-too-easy work of tearing other people down.
Anya, what is this concept of normalization, exactly? I first heard about it after the Palestinian documentary won an Oscar. It's crazy to me that even peace building is controversial.
Thank you for this post and your bravery for going to Palestine and speaking about it. I have always been active in peace and social justice movements but it's gotten very complicated lately. My husband is Jewish and some of his relatives have lived in Israel and very much believe whatever the Israeli govt/IDF says. My husband is more moderate but still he had no knowledge even of the Nakba and we've had some very tense conversations. I appreciate all people standing up for peace and human rights and especially Jewish people standing up for Palestinian rights. ❤️
I agree that it is disheartening that the concept of dialogue and peacebuilding is being denigrated and discredited by some. I can understand it though, even if I don't agree with it. For an American you can think back to the public debate after 9/11. An American who went around saying “we should sit down and listen and make peace with the Taliban” would surely be denounced. With the amount of violence on both sides in this conflict, many on both sides view the other in just this way.
Thanks for responding Anya! I'm Canadian but regardless I see your point regarding discussions post-9/11. I think it's even worse now because of the polarizing nature of social media. It breaks my heart to see people I care about only looking at one side of this issue and repeating hateful talking points to justify this genocide. 💔
I loved hearing about this. I'm reminded of a conversation I had with a friend about a different controversial topic. She told me that things were too bad to have nuanced conversations, but we could try that once things are better. Nuance, joy, and community are not things only for good or peaceful times. They are always necessary.
The problem with acceding to your troll's characterization of Israel's military action in Gaza as "a genocide" is what it implies about the democratically-elected government of Israel and, by extension, the body politic that elected them. Do you sincerely believe that their goal in Gaza is to maximize the Palestinians' suffering and death rather than to neutralize the threat Hamas poses to their own civilians? If so, no need to read on I suppose. I probably won't convince you otherwise.
If not: we, as progressive Jews, cannot just jump on this bandwagon because it's socially convenient for us. I'm as alarmed and upset about the Israeli government's continual lurch to the nationalist political right as I assume you are, and no reasonable person is happy about the devastation in Gaza. But political forces that are polarized against the mere existence of Israel, and the wellbeing of half the world's Jewish population, are using this as an excuse to advance their actual cause, and we cannot carry water for them.
We should all support joint Israeli-Palestinian political movements for coexistence, but those movements need to acknowledge that pressure on Palestinian factions like Hamas to end their armed struggle is as necessary to truly settling the conflict as is pressure on the Israeli government to end the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
I don't perceive any contradiction between calling a genocide a genocide and calling terrorism terrorism. There is a shared, symmetric principle: Upholding the sanctity of all life and delegitimizing violence against civilians. I don't pretend to read the minds of a Smotrich or a Netanyahu, as to their goal in Gaza, however, the ICJ finding of a "plausible genocide" is based not only on the actions of the Israeli government but on the statements of people in the government--vile, dehumanizing statements calculated to justify collective punishment. Collective punishment, such as cutting off clean drinking water to an entire population, just last week--a step which has no believable security purpose. I certainly agree with you that a principled pressure on all sides to choose diplomacy over violence is of utmost importanace. Happy Purim to you as well.
I worked for Adamah from 2004-2009 (back then it was called Hazon), and can attest that they, as an organization, have always been led by nuance and compassion--whether with humans' relationship to the planet or our complicated relationships to one another. I'm so glad to hear that they are still doing good work. That sounds like a truly special iftar. I am looking forward to your article!
On a pettier level, fuck the trolls. Thank you for being committed to the tough work of building new worlds, rather than the foolish and all-too-easy work of tearing other people down.
thank you Leah!
Anya, what is this concept of normalization, exactly? I first heard about it after the Palestinian documentary won an Oscar. It's crazy to me that even peace building is controversial.
Thank you for this post and your bravery for going to Palestine and speaking about it. I have always been active in peace and social justice movements but it's gotten very complicated lately. My husband is Jewish and some of his relatives have lived in Israel and very much believe whatever the Israeli govt/IDF says. My husband is more moderate but still he had no knowledge even of the Nakba and we've had some very tense conversations. I appreciate all people standing up for peace and human rights and especially Jewish people standing up for Palestinian rights. ❤️
Hi Sarah, thank you for reading and writing. Normalization was a new concept to me, encountered on this trip.
You can read more about it at the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions official web site:
https://www.bdsmovement.net/news/bds-movement-anti-normalization-guidelines
I agree that it is disheartening that the concept of dialogue and peacebuilding is being denigrated and discredited by some. I can understand it though, even if I don't agree with it. For an American you can think back to the public debate after 9/11. An American who went around saying “we should sit down and listen and make peace with the Taliban” would surely be denounced. With the amount of violence on both sides in this conflict, many on both sides view the other in just this way.
Thanks for responding Anya! I'm Canadian but regardless I see your point regarding discussions post-9/11. I think it's even worse now because of the polarizing nature of social media. It breaks my heart to see people I care about only looking at one side of this issue and repeating hateful talking points to justify this genocide. 💔
Also thanks for the link, I will check it out!
Word. Sister. Hopeful and Wise, as always.
Thanks Jo! <3
This is a lovely story, thank you for sharing it.
This is wonderful, Anya. Thank you.
Thanks Lisa!
I loved hearing about this. I'm reminded of a conversation I had with a friend about a different controversial topic. She told me that things were too bad to have nuanced conversations, but we could try that once things are better. Nuance, joy, and community are not things only for good or peaceful times. They are always necessary.
I think now more than ever. Thank you for reading!
The problem with acceding to your troll's characterization of Israel's military action in Gaza as "a genocide" is what it implies about the democratically-elected government of Israel and, by extension, the body politic that elected them. Do you sincerely believe that their goal in Gaza is to maximize the Palestinians' suffering and death rather than to neutralize the threat Hamas poses to their own civilians? If so, no need to read on I suppose. I probably won't convince you otherwise.
If not: we, as progressive Jews, cannot just jump on this bandwagon because it's socially convenient for us. I'm as alarmed and upset about the Israeli government's continual lurch to the nationalist political right as I assume you are, and no reasonable person is happy about the devastation in Gaza. But political forces that are polarized against the mere existence of Israel, and the wellbeing of half the world's Jewish population, are using this as an excuse to advance their actual cause, and we cannot carry water for them.
We should all support joint Israeli-Palestinian political movements for coexistence, but those movements need to acknowledge that pressure on Palestinian factions like Hamas to end their armed struggle is as necessary to truly settling the conflict as is pressure on the Israeli government to end the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
A freileichen Purim to you and yours.
I don't perceive any contradiction between calling a genocide a genocide and calling terrorism terrorism. There is a shared, symmetric principle: Upholding the sanctity of all life and delegitimizing violence against civilians. I don't pretend to read the minds of a Smotrich or a Netanyahu, as to their goal in Gaza, however, the ICJ finding of a "plausible genocide" is based not only on the actions of the Israeli government but on the statements of people in the government--vile, dehumanizing statements calculated to justify collective punishment. Collective punishment, such as cutting off clean drinking water to an entire population, just last week--a step which has no believable security purpose. I certainly agree with you that a principled pressure on all sides to choose diplomacy over violence is of utmost importanace. Happy Purim to you as well.
Ugh so sorry about the troll.
Ha it’s fine—look how unexpectedly his words landed!